As they approached Alnuum, Kal lost himself in thoughts about the consequences of his unique nature. The understanding that figures like Sorrow could only be the beginning of a series of challenges brought a growing concern about Inala and Sin's safety. He questioned whether their closeness did not put them at an even greater risk, weighing the balance between familial ties and the need to protect them from potential dangers.
Spotting Alnuum broke the tension of Kal's thoughts, by the sight of three familiar figures approaching at a gallop. It was Lilla, Clara and Kohaku, who came to meet the group enthusiastically. Kohaku's vibrant energy manifested in an agile jump to Kal's horse, followed by a comedic scene when Clara, overcome by jealousy, pulled Kohaku back, causing him to fall. This moment of joy helped Kal forget his gloomy reflections.
Lilla joined the meeting with a serious demeanor, confronting Kal with an intense look "You're late!" she said. Kal's response, mentioning the need to wait for the audience with the High King, did not seem sufficient to divert Lilla's attention, who tried unsuccessfully to conceal her deepest feelings. But even trying to remain more serious and dignified, Lilla could not take her eyes off Kal.
They continued together until entering the capital, the scene of destruction and devastation they had seen before, now they saw a clean and organized place, making the young people understand that this was the result of a great effort by the people of the city. When approaching the old capital square, King Relon himself was also helping people set up improvised houses.
"HEY! Old Head! Come here!" called Suzannah. Looking at her, Kal asked, "Are these new nicknames? Where is the Kal who used to call me before?". Smiling, Suzannah said, "That was only during wartime, now we're back to normal around here!". Kal just accepted and went to the Red Queen. "What did that old Ellanon say to you, does he want to take you to his never-aging aberration kingdom?". Smiling, Kal says "He just spoke a few things about the sword I carry, nothing more." Suzannah loses some of her previous excitement and leaves saying "We'll chat better another time, get ready because I'm going to interrogate you..."
Meanwhile, Gwen, still impacted by everything she had seen in Arlathania, told the other girls every detail she had witnessed in that place, especially on the day of the great party. Kohaku grabbed Clara's arm screaming "Don't tell me, I'm already jealous of you!", while Lilla and Clara herself listened with a desire to one day visit the elven land. As the girls talked, Kal went to King Relon to help with something.
"What's with that sleepy face, Kal?" asked Relon. "I had a pretty restless night...". When Relon heard that from Kal, a second later he also heard Gwen say "At first it was a little soft, but then when I started moving back and forth it got really hard, I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it, but I handled it, and you'll never believe it, Katara told me the same thing happened to her too, and she's kind of foxy...". Relon just looked at Kal suspiciously. "Eiiii, it's not what you're thinking, she's telling about the elf party we attended!". Relon just breathed relieved and said "You wouldn't be capable..."
Kal and Relon conversed while helping carry some wood for the houses, when they noticed a plaque on the ground that used to stand at the entrance to the imperial academy. Holding the plaque, Kal fixed his eyes on it.
"Remember when we were selected for the imperial academy, it was a big day," recalled Kal.
"Yeah, maybe you don't know this yet, but I'm almost a year older than you. I tried to enter the imperial academy here in the capital, but I failed and later I was also humiliated by my father, that's why I went to a distant village to try again, and that's where I met you," said Relon, carrying wood for the houses.
"Did you want to enter the imperial academy to prove something to your father?" asked Kal.
"I guess so, our family has always had this need to have strong and magically powerful children, I guess I'm neither," Relon replied sadly.
"Your strength lies beyond these things, my friend. You'll be a great king, I'm sure of it!" said Kal to Relon.
"Yeah, and with your help I'll be a just king to all in this country!" concluded Relon.
Relon's words made Kal reflect again. He realized with the encounter with Lilla and the girls, Suzannah's call, and the conversation with Relon that the people close to him depended on and expected a lot from him, and that could be a bad thing since he was the catalyst for great problems. Kal just didn't want the people he loved to suffer because of the special power he carried. He remembered Primordius' message that he would be the catalyst for changes in the world and thought those changes could be for worse, bringing problems like Morfrey himself. Kal just couldn't accept that anyone else get hurt or die because of him.
That day, as Kal walked through the battered and destroyed streets of Alnuum, an elderly woman sitting in front of a tent sang a song that said:
"Who can see, who can hear, a great king was slain
Before his family, the eldest son did claim
Across the lands, never was seen, such a plot so vile
The son became the lord, at the cost of innocent lives, so fragile
But a new king arose, clad in hero's guise
One whom even death's claws could not demise
Alongside him Nannu rises high
Bathed in the light, of an everlasting sky..."
Suddenly, all the people who were in that place began singing the refrain of that song along with the elderly woman:
"Today the king is his people's servant...
Raising our great home again, so fervent...
Oh, the king is the servant of his people...
Planting the seeds of renewal, under the steeple."
Kal noticed how determined the people of Nannu were to rescue their home, bringing faith and hope in their king. Apparently it was a song recently composed by the people, like a kind of restoration chant in the face of all the bad things that had happened. Kal realized that the people were prospering after everything they had gone through at Morfrey's hands, and that tightened the young man's heart even more, remembering the High King's advice, he desired in his heart to depart for the far east in search of definitive answers.
When Kal entered his tent, he noticed there was a letter among his things, he opened the letter and inside was a location and time. Kal thought it was Sorrow challenging him again, at first he thought not to go, but the weight of bringing an enemy to the door of the people he loves pressed him until he decided to meet this mysterious person. Suzannah had asked Arphaxad to follow Kal, as she had noticed he was strange all day and not knowing what it could be, she asked the warrior to follow him.
That night, taken by a gloomy determination, Kal took his sword Dawnbreaker and silently prepared his horse, guided only by the mysterious letter's instructions. Unnoticed by him, Arphaxad followed closely, a silent specter in the dark, witnessing each movement with hidden intention. Absorbed in his turbulent thoughts and the weight of the decisions he carried, Kal was unaware that his steps were being tracked, as immersed as he was in the depth of his own inner turmoil.
After some time riding, Kal arrives at the designated place and sees a figure sitting on a rock. Kal approached holding his sword when the man said:
"I didn't come here to fight, I came to bring you information!!".
Intrigued, Kal asks: "What information do you have for me?".
The man then rises from the rock and removing the hood he wore revealed himself to be an older man: "My name is Hadon, I am a servant of Salazar Saladon of the Grand Duchy of Saladon, and I came to talk.".
Kal without understanding what this man wanted with him asked: "Why did you leave that letter for me, what do you really want?".
Hadon then handed Kal a golden brooch and said: "This belonged to your mother.".
Kal still without understanding said: "My mother is already dead, she died to save me".
Thinking Kal already knew the story, the man said: "Yes, she died a long time ago fleeing to save her life, I never imagined you would be alive."
Kal became curious about the man's words: "What do you mean fleeing, my mother faced Morfrey so that I would not die, she sacrificed herself for me.".
The man then realizing Kal was referring to someone else said: "Who are you referring to, my young man?".
Kal quickly says: "My mother, Ella!".
When Kal said that, the man filled his eyes with tears and with a trembling voice and a smile on his face said: "Then she was alive all this time..".
"I just came to deliver this brooch to you and say that if you want to know more about your origins, you should meet me in the Grand Duchy of Saladon, the journey is long but I have a good house near the triple border," said Hadon before leaving on his horse.
After Hadon's departure, Kal remained alone, contemplating the brooch he had just received, an object that supposedly belonged to his mother, Ella. Despite his strength and intelligence, Kal found himself confused, immersed in thoughts that clouded his understanding of recent events. The meaning of that brooch, enigmatic and profound, seemed to elude between the fingers of his mind, leading him to question not only Hadon's words, but also the truths of his own history.
Realizing he was not alone, Kal challenged his hidden observer to reveal himself. Arphaxad emerged from the shadows, sharing what he had heard and warning Kal about the dangers his fame as a hero could attract. Discussions about intrigues and traps from enemy nations put Kal on alert. He recognized the need to unravel his origin in the Duchy of Saladon as essential to navigate the labyrinth of threats and alliances that the future held in store.
Arphaxad expressed his fear regarding Suzannah's reaction if he returned without valuable information, revealing a dark side of the Red Queen that Kal and he considered totally plausible. The conversation ended up sealing both their fates: they would depart together for Saladon, an agreement marked by the mutual understanding of the grave consequences they would face if they disappointed Suzannah. Kal, understanding the magnitude of the journey ahead, instructed Arphaxad to prepare for the trip, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his quest for answers.
After returning to Alnuum, Kal and Arphaxad find a celebratory atmosphere organized by Katara, with a banquet bringing together all friends to celebrate their return from the elven lands. Although joy permeates the environment, Kal remains distant and pensive, absorbed by recent discoveries and the emotional burden they brought, standing out amid the festivities for his introspection.
Unable to find rest from the burden of thoughts that assaulted him, Kal seeks relief and clarity in the practice of his training under the cover of night. The solitude and focus on training are interrupted by Kohaku's unexpected arrival, as she worries about his well-being. Prioritizing his moment of introspection and preparation, Kal responds succinctly, resuming his training in hopes of emptying his mind of turbulence.
Kohaku's insistence on sharing Kal's training time leads to an unusual challenge: Kal has 30 seconds to hit her with a blow, the condition for her to leave him in peace with his exercises. Seeing the proposal as an opportunity to return to his quest for focus and serenity, Kal accepts the challenge, an interaction that, despite the tense context, offers a glimpse of the unique dynamic between the two, mixing competition and camaraderie.
The two prepared themselves, Kal was very confident that he would quickly win, however Kohaku seemed quite calm. When the signal to start was given, Kal advanced at an incredible speed to quickly touch Kohaku and end it all, but Kal felt his body get heavier as he approached Kohaku. He looked at her and saw a smile from the Kijin girl, Kal fell to the ground not knowing what happened and asked Kohaku:
"Why is my body so heavy?"
Kohaku just crouched near Kal and said:
"You thought I was weak, one thing my brother taught me is to never underestimate your opponent, you fell for my arcane magic '4th Circle - Slow', you'll be there for a while."
Kal smiled, understanding that he got what he deserved for underestimating a friend, and turning over, he started a conversation with Kohaku.
So under the moonlight, Kal and Kohaku share a moment of introspection, discussing the weight of responsibilities. Kal expresses his pressure and concerns, feeling the burden of high expectations. Kohaku, on the other hand, reveals how the early loss of her parents forced her to mature early, assuming responsibilities that shaped her resilience. She emphasizes the importance of keeping focus and finding joy even in adversity, offering a perspective that balances the weight of obligation with the determination to pursue happiness, a contrast that illuminates the conversation with a mixture of melancholy and hope.
Recovering from the effects of Kohaku's magic, Kal praises her ability and suggests they continue training. Kohaku, happy to contribute, accepts enthusiastically. Together, they resume training, uniting strengths in a partnership that strengthens them both. This moment of cooperation and mutual recognition marks an evolution in their relationship, demonstrating how collaboration can lead to personal growth and enhanced skills, under the tranquil light of the moon.
During the night, Kal and Kohaku dedicate themselves to joint training, an experience that reveals Kohaku's strength and allows Kal, for a brief period, to forget the worries weighing on his mind. This pause in his problems through shared exercise highlights the value of mutual support and strength found in the friendship of the two.
The next morning, decided and without informing the others of their plans, Kal and Arphaxad depart for the Duchy of Saladon. Their goal is clear: find Hadon and delve into the mysteries surrounding Kal's past. This journey promises not only answers about his origins, but also signals the beginning of a meaningful chapter in Kal's quest to understand his true identity and destiny.